The Wizard of Beck — Let us take a trip back into history. Not ancient history. Recent history. It is the winter of 2007. The presidential primaries are approaching. The talk jocks like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and the rest are over the moon about Fred Thompson.

McCain's mission: A GOP makeover — Fresh from a humbling loss in last year's presidential election, Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image. — McCain is recruiting candidates, raising money for them and hitting the campaign trail on their behalf.

Letterman reveals extortion attempt — ‘Late Show’ host also admits sex with staffers — In an uncharacteristically personal revelation for David Letterman, the host took to his “Late Show” stage Thursday to admit that he was the victim of an extortion attempt — and acknowledge …

The Truth About Jobs That No One Wants To Tell You — Unemployment will almost certainly in double-digits next year — and may remain there for some time. And for every person who shows up as unemployed in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' household survey, you can bet there's another either …

Is Conservatism Brain-Dead? — Over his decades as a columnist, lecturer, TV host and debater, William F. Buckley Jr. lost his cool in public only once — when he threatened to sock Gore Vidal “in your goddamn face” on the third night of their joint appearances on ABC during the ill-fated 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Senate Committee Passes Quasi-Public Option Amendment — WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? — The Senate Finance Committee narrowly passed an amendment Thursday from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) that moves the conservative panel as close as it will likely get to a public health insurance option.

Reid: Final health bill will have a ‘public option’ — U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said today there will be a “public option” in whatever health insurance reform bill comes out of Congress. — “We are going to have a public option before this bill goes to the president's desk,” …

Washington Sketch — Helen Thomas is 89 years old and requires some assistance to get to and from the daily White House briefing. Yet her backbone has proved stronger than that of the president she covers. — On Thursday afternoon, Thomas gave a clinic in fortitude to President Obama's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, during the briefing.

Senator's Aid After Affair Raises Flags Over Ethics — WASHINGTON — Early last year, Senator John Ensign contacted a small circle of political and corporate supporters back home in Nevada — a casino designer, an airline executive, the head of a utility and several political consultants …

Mission Not Accomplished — Stocks are up. Ben Bernanke says that the recession is over. And I sense a growing willingness among movers and shakers to declare “Mission Accomplished” when it comes to fighting the slump. It's time, I keep hearing, to shift our focus from economic stimulus to the budget deficit.

Politics as religion in America — Conservatism has been converted into a religious belief, and now compromise doesn't have a prayer. — For decades now, liberals have been agonizing because conservatives seem to win even when polls show that the public generally disagrees with them.

The New Right-Wing Hit Job: Kevin Jennings — Is the right-wing hit squad going cruel? — After chasing both Van Jones, a White House green jobs adviser, and Yosi Sergant, the communications director of the National Endowment for the Arts, out of their jobs, they have a new target in the crosshairs …

How Politics Destroyed a Great TV Show — Either you are with me, or you are my enemy!" shouted a young Darth Vader in 2005's Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, one of the execrable prequels to the original films by George Lucas. In response to this all-or-nothing provocation …

Grant gives Grateful Dead archive new life online — SANTA CRUZ — The Grateful Dead Archive has taken another step in its long strange trip, from the UC Santa Cruz library to its own Web site, The Virtual Terrapin Station. — One of the most popular bands in rock ‘n’ roll history …